Apparatus for reducing the diameter of the ends of pipes and tubes



March 19, 1935. w o u -r 1,994,725

APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE DIAMETER OF THE ENDS 0F PIPES .AND TUBES Filed April 28, 1933 1760096109: JoH/v OFFUTT,

Patented Mar. 19, 1935 1 John W. Offutt'; Ellwood City, Pa., assignor to 1;National Tube Company;

, Jersey acorporation of-New:

Applilcation April 28,1933, serial u 658,442

'2' claims. Meliss -3s) This invention relates to an apparatus for reducing the diameter of the ends of pipes and tubes, and more particularly to fpointingi the same preparatory to hot oncold drawing operations.

In the manufacture of hot or cold drawn pipes and tubes, wherein the diameters and/or wall thicknesses are reduced with the conventional draw bench, it is necessary to provide the tubular work-piece with a so-called point, or extremity of reduced outside diameter. This point is inserted through the drawing die and provides a means whereby the pipes or tubes may be seized by the grip of the pliers, or drawing carriage.

Heretofore, pipes or tubes, when intended for subsequent hot or cold drawing operations, have been pointed by heating a short length of the end of the work-piece to a forging temperature and then reducing the heated extremity to the de-' blows with sired point dimension by successive a power hammer equipped with forging dies. The furnaces necessary'for such operations occasion considerable expense, in addition to which a great deal of time was consumed in the forging operation.

In addition to pointing, the work-pieces require other preparatory operations; namely, pickling to remove scale, rinsing to remove pickling acid and residue, lubricating, and the drying of the lubricant. In the past, it has been necessary to point the work-pieces prior to these operations, since heating of the ends of the workpieces burns off the oxidizes them for a distance adjacent the pain However, the work-pieces are adversely affected if they are first fpointed, since circulation of the pickling acid and rinsing water are impeded. Also, uniform'deposition of the lubricant is made difficult, and the free circulation of hot air through the work-pieces for drying the lubricant is prevented.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for pointing work-pieces in such manner as not to require theusual heating and successive forging operations.

Another object is the provision of a superior article for drawing operations of the type referred to, which will provide an open end of such design as to allow for free circulation of air and liquids necessary to its treatment.

These and further objects will appear after.

referring to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the invention.

lubricant,,and scales or de- Figure 2 isfian enlarged detailed elevation showing the relationship of; several of the elements of theapparatus of. theinvention atone stage ofthe operation. v J

Figure 3 isa view similar'to Figure 2,disclosingthe relationshipf of the various elements in the final stage of operation.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the improved article of the invention.

' Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates a base on which there is mounted a support 3. A shaft 4 is journaled on the support 3 and provided with an extended portion which carries a friction coupling 5, a

' '7 on its extended and journaled end. A motor 8 is provided with a pinion (not shown) for driving the gear 6, and accordingly rotating the shaft 4. A pair of small pinions or gears 9 are keyed on the shaft 4 adjacent the outer surfaces of the support 3.

A shaft 10 is similarly journaled in the support 3 and provided at its extremities with gears 12, which are in constant mesh with the pinions 9. A frame 14 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in the support 3 and provided at its ends with bosses 15 which are adapted to be connected to similar bosses 16 on the gears 12 by means of the connecting-rod 17.

A stationary frame 18 is secured to the support 3 between the reciprocating frame 14 and the shaft 10 and is provided with transverse journaled pins 19 which carry rocking levers 20. Each of the rocking levers 20 carries a roller 21 at its lowest extremity which is adapted to engage a rotating cam 22, the latter being keyed to the shaft 10. A pair of tapered jaws 23 are associated with the upper extremities of the rocking levers 20 and a stationary half-cylindricaldie member 24 secured to the frame 19 between them. A similar and cooperatinghalfcylindrical die member 25 is similarly secured to the vertically reciprocating frame 14.

The cam 22 is so positionedon the shaft 10 that the jaw members 23 are at the closest limit of proximity when the reciprocating frame 14 is at its uppermost position.

In operation, the motor 8 is started and contirniously operated at a predetermined speed. When the jaws 23 arenear their opened position, the end of a tubular work-piece A is placed in the half-cylindrical die member 24 on the stationary frame 18. The rotation of the cam 22 on the shaft 10 brings the jaw members 23 together, thus crimping the end of the work-piece to the'shape A of Figure 2.

m the scen pf my the following claims;

made without departing invention, as defined in I claimr 1. Apparatus for reducing the ends of tubular" work-pieces comprising a support, a cross-member on said support, a stationary half-cylindri-.

cal die mounted on said cross-member, a frame mounted for vertical reciprocation onsaidsupport, a half-cylindrical die carried by said frame,

a lever pivoted to said cross-member on either,

side of said stationary half cylindrical "die, an inwardly extending jaw mounted on the upper end of each of said levers, 'a ro1ler carried on the other end of each of sajid levers, a shaft journaled'below' said cross-member} arotating I 1,994,725 As the cam 22 further rotates, the jaws 23 will Wish to be limited e3 1. actly thereto, since various modifications may be cammounted on saidshaft and having a. face in contact with each of said rollers, a. 'crankfon each end of said shaft, a link for connecting each of said cranks with rotating said shaft.

2. Apparatus for reducing the ends of tubular work-pieces (comprising a support, a member on saidsupport, .a. stationar'yhalt-cylindrical die mounted on said cross member, a. frame mounted for vertical reciprocation on said support, a halt-cylindrical die carried by said framajalever pivoted to said cross member on either side of said stationary half-cylindrical die adapted for movement toward and away therefrom, all-inwardly extending jawmounted said frame, and meansi'or H on'the upper end'of each of said levers and above rotating cam mounted on'said shaftand haying a" face -i -n contact with each of'said-jrol'leis, a crankon eachend ofsaidf'shaft, a; link ior'c o'n-j necting each of said cranks with said frame'and means for rotating said shaft;

,said iirst named half-cylindrical die, a roller; carried on the'other endof each of said levers,-

ia ShaftJ QurnaIed below said cross membena 

